Gem and jewellery and SLT Rainbow Pages tie-up
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The local gem and jewellery industry will be revitalised to become a
billion dollar sector sooner than expected with the tie-up of the
industry with the SLT Rainbow Pages, the country's only business
directory.
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The launch of the theme for 2013 'Sri
Lanka Gems' jointly by SLT Rainbow Pages and the Gem and
Jewellery Authority. |
The gem and jewellery industry is poised to be the fourth largest
foreign exchange earner and the partnership with Rainbow Pages will fuel
further growth.
The theme of Rainbow Pages for 2013 will be 'Sri Lanka Gems'. The
industry is in the process of re-positioning as an end-product supplier,
National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman and CEO, Prasad Galhena
said.
Countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong have become gem
centres without having gem bearing land as in the case of Sri Lanka.
"We need to re-think and re-shape export strategy to enable more
value addition," he said.
The industry will be promoted at national and international level and
the tie-up will facilitate this effort as using the SLT Rainbow Pages
will bring important insights and information to people across the
country. "We looked for an industry that is deserving of the far
reaching publicity our directory offers annually," SLT Rainbow Pages,
CEO Malraj Balapitiya said.
"Having examined our options carefully we determined that in 2013 our
strength would be placed behind the promotion of the local gem and
jewellery industry."
"We believe that this industry plays a pivotal role in the country' s
development drive and is a vital component of future growth in terms of
trade, revenue, tourism, jobs and income generation," he said.
"We have dedicated our 2013 edition to the gem and jewellery
industry. The highest number of gem stones are found in Sri Lanka which
is relatively unknown in the world.
 The directory contains information
on the industry, ranging from the history of gem mining, names and types
of gems found in the country to the characterisers a good gem stone and
the role the industry will play in the country's future, SLT Rainbow
Pages, General Manager Ruwan Wijetunga said.
While creating awareness, measures will be taken to promote and
protect the industry using high-tech products and services such as
mobile app and the Tourist Directory for the benefit of travellers to
Sri Lanka and overseas buyers, he said.
The SLT Rainbow Pages has the ability to reach a wider strata of
society and is an invaluable tool in supporting comprehensive growth of
the industry.
Sri Lanka is considered as one of the fastest developing gem cutting
and finishing centre in the world. It has a zero tax regime for import
and export of gemstones making the country a friendly place for gem
trading.
The National Gem and Jewellery Authority plans to promote and develop
jewellery exports where value addition is to be the highest in keeping
with the government's development strategy.
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